Elektra was important enough to the be the titular subject of tragedies by both Sophocles and Euripides, while Atalanta took part in famous quests – not least the voyage of the Argonauts, according to some sources.

There are so many fascinating, powerful and compelling women in Greek mythology, but over time some of their stories have become watered down and their roles reduced to one-dimensional stereotypes on the fringes of the men’s stories. How is woman, in all her archetypal roles and representations, imprinted in your writings? Your next two novels Elektra and Atalanta also revolve around a female mythological figure. I felt that in writing the novel and giving her a voice to tell of her own courageous deeds, I was honouring her desire not to be forgotten and to be more than just a footnote in a hero’s legend. In Ovid’s Heroides, Ariadne commands Theseus to remember her when he boasts of his feats to admiring crowds. In putting Ariadne in the spotlight, I found it revealed a darker side to Theseus, and made me reconsider who the real monster of such stories truly is. But you don’t have to delve far into Greek mythology to find more interesting characters in that story whose stories aren’t told as often, in particular that of Ariadne – the woman who saved the hero. Tell us a few things about the book.Įveryone knows the story of Theseus and the Minotaur a familiar tale of a brave hero slaying a terrible monster. Your debut novel Ariadne recently translated in Greek and published by Kaktos, forges a new epic that puts the forgotten women of Greek mythology back at the forefront as they strive for a better world.

Jennifer saint book